Burt family
Sir Archibald Paull Burt QC (1810 – 21 November 1879) was a British lawyer born in the West Indies. He arrived in Western Australia with his wife Louisa Bryan and five children on 29 January 1861. In June of that year, the Supreme Court ordinance was proclaimed, thus establishing the Supreme Court of Western Australia. Sir Archibald was appointed Chief Justice and Advocate General.
BURT, (Sir) Archibald Paull, b. 1810 (W.Indies), d. 21.11.1879 (Perth), arr. 29.1.1861 per Hastings with wife & 5 chd. m. (W.lndies) 14.6.1836 Louisa BRYAN b. 1814 d. 20.9.1870 (Perth). Chd. all except last born in W. Indies where Burt was Attorney General. George Henry b. 1837 d. 1867, Archibald Piguenit b. 1838 d. 1877 (W.Indies), Frederick Augustus b. 1840 d. 1912, Edward Musgrove b. 1842 d. 1846, John Musgrove b. 1844 d. 1845, Edmund Wigley b. 1846 d. 1926, Septimus b. 1847 d. 1919, Octavius b. 1849 d. 1940, Alfred Earle b. 1852 d. 1945, Francis Sinclair b. 1854 d. 1872, Louisa Emily b. 1856, Mina Eliza b. 1861 d. 1947. Chief Justice of W.A. Supreme Court 1861-1877, noted for his integrity. (Educ. at Public School England, 1825 admitted to Middle Temple, 1830 as a barrister, practised in W.Indies). Owned the house Strawberry Hill, Adelaide Terrace, Perth. Employed a T/L wood-cutter 1868. 1874 knighted in London for services to Law & W.A. Overseas on leave 8.1873. 4 dtrs. to London 15.6.1878 per Helena Mena, Miss & 3 sons arr. from London 16.9.1878 per Helena Mena. Miss arr. 22.1.1880 per Assam. Commemorated in 1979 in brass pavement plaque at Perth for year 1861.
Septimus Burt arrived in Western Australia with his parents, and subsequently attended Hale School in Perth. He served as an articled clerk to George Frederick Stone, and was admitted to the Bar in 1870. In 1876, Burt went into partnership with Edward Albert Stone (George Frederick's son), in the firm Stone and Burt.
He was offered a knighthood in 1901 – Knight Commander of St Michael and St George (KCMG) – but declined it. He also declined several invitations to join the bench of the Supreme Court, including the position of Chief Justice at the request of Premier George Leake in 1901. He wasa a foundation member of the Weld Club.
In 1917 Burt and his wife funded and donated to the Church the Burt Memorial Hall on St Georges Terrace, as a memorial to their two sons killed during World War I. Initially it was to commemorate their son Theodore, who died in 1917, but a second son, Francis, was killed in 1918 before the construction was complete.
He died on 15 May 1919, and is buried at Karrakatta Cemetery.
BURT, Septimus, b. 25.10.1847 (W.Indies), d. 14.5.1919, arr. 29.1.1861 per Hastings with parents, m. 13.7.1872 Louiaa Fanny HARE b. 4.6.1848 d. 11.2.1929, dtr. of Gustavus Edward & Sarah. Chd. Annie Louisa b. 1873, Archibald Francis Gustave b. 1875 (Perth C/E) d. 1941, Laura Georgiana b. 1876 (Perth C/E), Frederick Julius Augustus b. 1877 (Perth C/E) , Reginald George Edward b. 1879 (Perth C/E), Hilda Maude b. 1882, George Henry b. 1883 d. 1869, Francis Sinclair b. 1886 d. 1918 (World War I), Olive Mina b. 1888, Theodore Charles Arthur b. 1893 d. 1916 (World War I). Perth, clerk to father Chief Justice 1869- 71. Barrister 1872 in firm of Stone & Burt. Chairman of Central Bd. of Educ. 1874-. Nom. MLC 10.1874-1.1879. MLC Murray & Williams 2.1880-5.1886. North Prov. 1888-1890. MLA Ashburton 12.1890-4.1900. Acting Attorney Gen. 1886. Attorney Gen. 12.1890-10.1897. Member Executive Council 12.1888-2.1901. Visited Victoria & returned 4.1878 per Assam. Educ. Bishop's College.
Octavius Burt was another of Sir Archibald's sons.
References and Links
Erickson.
Wikipedia.
This page incorporates material from Garry Gillard's Freotopia website, that he started in 2014 and the contents of which he donated to Wikimedia Australia in 2024. The content was originally created on 2 April, 2022 and hosted at freotopia.org/people/burt.html (it was last updated on 23 January, 2024), and has been edited since it was imported here (see page history). The donated data is also preserved in the Internet Archive's collection.